In Ngoc Ha Ward ( Hanoi City), wherever there is a difficult situation or someone in need of help, people immediately think of Mr. Duong Quoc Viet. People see him mobilizing every kilo of rice for those in difficult circumstances, see him being the first to appear whenever there is an incident, and people also see the 71-year-old Party Secretary himself, without any hesitation, rolling up his sleeves to clean up and bathe a lonely man after a stroke.
When asked about the job that even his relatives might hesitate to do, the 41% disabled veteran just waved his hand and said calmly: "Seeing people suffering like this, I still have the strength, so I help. We are all human beings, how can I abandon them?"
The soldier's uniform may have faded, the sound of gunfire has receded into the past, but in the soul of that veteran, there is still only one command that has not faded over the years: The command from his heart that urges him to live fully for the people.
Although he is 71 years old, war invalid and veteran Duong Quoc Viet is still working hard as a Party Cell Secretary and Head of the Front Work Committee of Ngoc Ha ward. |
"Put down your pen and ink" to follow the call of the country
In 1972, when the resistance war against the US entered its most intense phase, the seething atmosphere of the “Put down your pen and go to war” movement spread to every classroom of Quoc Oai High School (Quoc Oai Commune, Hanoi). During the talks about the war and responsibility to the Fatherland, the flame of patriotism was lit in the hearts of the students still in school. For 18-year-old Duong Quoc Viet, then in 8th grade, that call was even stronger than the sound of the school drum. Without hesitation, he and three other classmates wrote volunteer applications, asking to go to war.
Faced with fierce opposition from his family, but with his own reasoning, he firmly stated: “Studying can be done later. In times like this, we should be responsible.” Just like that, in May 1972, the young man who weighed only 38kg at that time eagerly set off, joining Battalion 5, Regiment 24, Division 304, participating in many historic battles.
For him, the most vivid memory in his mind is the fierce battles at the 1062 Thuong Duc hill (Dai Lanh commune, Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province - now Thuong Duc commune, Da Nang city), where both sides put all their efforts into turning the hill into a literal "meat grinder". It was here that he witnessed Thang, his close comrade from childhood in Sai Son commune (now Quoc Oai commune, Hanoi city), fall right before his eyes.
“It was so fierce at that time, there was no way to save my friend. When the gunfire stopped, I crawled out and pulled my friend’s body in,” he choked. The pain of loss had not yet subsided, and he had to spend another long night lying in the cave with the bodies of three other comrades who had sacrificed their lives, waiting for the transport unit to come and take them home. Those memories carved into the young soldier’s mind scars that would never heal, recording the fierceness and harshness of war in exchange for the independence and freedom of the country.
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He himself was tested by fate twice on the line between life and death. The first time was also in Thuong Duc in 1973 when mortar fragments pierced his arms and legs. The wound forced him to leave the front line for two months.
The second time, which also left the greatest regret, was on April 26, 1975, when his troops were only about 40-50 kilometers from Saigon. A cruel bullet made him miss the day of total victory, leaving behind an endless regret and a 41% disabled veteran card.
Leaving the battlefield, he returned to the crossroads of everyday life. His dream of becoming a doctor was left unfinished because he lacked just one exam score. In 1981, he transferred to work in the finance sector at the Finance Department of Ha Dong town (now Ha Dong ward, Hanoi) and quietly devoted himself until his retirement (in 2015).
“All for the people” – An oath that never gets old
It was thought that after decades of dedication to the army and the state, the war invalid and veteran would enjoy his old age. However, for Mr. Duong Quoc Viet, retirement does not mean rest.
Only 6 months after receiving his pension book, in 2016, following the trust and encouragement of his fellow countrymen, he "re-enlisted" and entered a new front - the front of social work, where there was no gunfire but was full of worries about everyday life.
He successively took on the roles of Head of the Veterans Association (2016), Head of the Party Cell (2017). The turning point came in 2020 when he was elected as Secretary of the Party Cell of Lieu Giai Ward (now Ngoc Ha Ward, Hanoi City). Since his second term (2022-2025) until now, he has begun to shoulder dual responsibilities when concurrently holding the role of Head of the Front Work Committee of Residential Group 7 (now Residential Group 25).
This job of “serving a hundred families” takes up almost all of his time. He admits: “It’s very stressful now.” The pressure from endless meetings, from having to learn how to use a computer to process documents according to the requirements of the 4.0 era. The pressure from calls interrupting meals, from having to go out to solve common problems in the middle of the night makes his family feel sorry and stop him.
“Many times I was tired and stressed, and thought about quitting, but I knew I was doing it for the team, so I continued,” Mr. Viet honestly shared.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. Viet and other benefactors, the generous rice portions regularly reach disadvantaged families, ensuring that no one is left behind. Photo by NVCC
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Mr. Bui Van Lam, Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell of Ngoc Ha Ward, Head of Residential Group 25, commented: “For everything, from small to large, Comrade Viet has a clear plan, specific assignments, says what he does, is very decisive and disciplined. He is also very emotional, always listens to his brothers, and cares about each situation. With him as the leader, we seem to be inspired with more enthusiasm.”
Mr. Lam still remembers clearly the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic, when the whole neighborhood was still in panic, it was Mr. Viet who rolled up his sleeves and got to work with him. They patrolled each alley together, both supervising and personally bringing bags of rice to support the most disadvantaged families... “He has a very special determination. There were difficult things, things that were easy to offend, but for the common good, he still stood up and resolved them frankly. It was that “soldier quality” of saying what he did, for the right reason that created absolute trust for us and the people,” Mr. Lam shared.
His determination in work is guided by a simple philosophy that he always keeps in mind: "I must still maintain the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers. Everything is for the people." It is his determination in work and his affection in dealing with people that has turned him into a reliable support for the whole neighborhood. People feel his dedication more clearly than anyone else.
Talking about his secretary, Mr. Truong Ngoc To, an 87-year-old citizen in residential area 25, respectfully shared: “Since Uncle Viet took over, this residential area has become one of the most advanced standard areas in the ward. He is very thoughtful and responsible. Every morning, he goes around to supervise from the gate to the market. People like that are rare nowadays. You have to have a real heart for the people to be able to do that.”
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When asked about his achievements, from the Third Class Medal during wartime to the certificates of merit during peacetime, he just smiled gently. For a veteran, those medals and orders are all precious recognitions, but they cannot compare to the rewards he receives every day in the eyes and greetings of his neighbors. Because, he believes: "The most precious reward is the love of the neighbors".
At the end of his conversation with us, the veteran and Party cell secretary Duong Quoc Viet walked around the neighborhood again. Looking at his steady steps, it was hard to imagine that the man was still carrying shrapnel from the war. In the eyes of the people, he was the familiar figure of "our party secretary". In the eyes of his comrades, he was the exemplary demeanor of the soldier of the past.
His life was a never-ending march. From the fiery trenches of Quang Tri to the small alleys of the Capital, the enemy had retreated, the guns had stopped, but the soldier was still there, quietly serving, quietly keeping his oath to the country and the people.
Article and photos: YEN NHI
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/cuu-chien-binh-duong-quoc-viet-nguoi-song-mai-voi-loi-the-phung-su-838787
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